Egg crate



March 6, 1928. I

B. A. LANGE EGG CRATE Filed Nov. 30. 1923 2 Shams-Sheet l E gm. 6 y 4 J March 6, 1928.

B. A. LANGE EGG CRATE Filed Nov. 50. 1925 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 @51 afformzq Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

' BER'II-IOLLD A. LANG'E, OF LOUIS,

EGG CRATE.

Application filed November 80, 1923.

to strengthen the end partitions or strips by confining these slits to a region wellwitlr 16 in the margin of the strips, so that the longitudinal edges thereof may notbe broken, and thereby impaired in strength, because of such slits.

Another object is to devise such an interlocking means as will afford the maximum strength. to the tips or projecting ends of the several partitions to mitigate their bending or breaking, and especially those of the end strips, which are subject to the most wear in handling. When the projecting ends or tips of the several strips are bent, the crate-filler slips to and from the wall of the crate-box or container during handling, which back and forth movement is detrimental to the fragile contents of the crate. v

Another object is to provide additional means which shall supplement the projecting tips in their function of spacing the end strips from the wall of the crate-box.

Another object is to brace or stiffen both longitudinal margins or edges of the end strips against lateral flexing.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of this invention;

I Figures 2, 3, and 4 are respective views of the several strips or partitions of which the cellular structure or filler depicted in Figure 1 is comprised;

Figures 5 and 6 are views of alternative forms of strips;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative form of this invention; and

Figures 8, 9, and lO-are respective views form shown in Figure 7.

of the several'strips which constitute the.

Serial nu. eraser.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, inner strips or partitions 1 are provided with any suitable interlocking means, such as the transverse slits 2, and have their ends terminating. in tongues 23, which tongues 8 consist of a constricted or neck portion a and are enlarged or widened at their ends by projecting ears 5. v 1

One pair of the outer or end'strips or partitions 6 (Figures 1 and 3) are substantially similar inoutline to the strips 1, and have their ends, also, provided with tongues 3, neck 4, and ears 5, but in lieu of the usual interlocking means, such as the slits 2, are provided with slits 7, consisting of an inner portion 8, perpendicular to the longitudinal edges or margins S), and deviating portions 10, inclined or distorted out of alinem'ent with the portion 8, and preferably forming a continuation from one sidethereof, the extreme ends of the portion 8 being defined by the edges 11.

Another pair of outer. or end strips or partitions 12 (Figures 1 and 1') are substantially rectangular in shape and have slots 13 consisting of a perpendicular portion 8 having edges 11 and of deviating portions 10. Slots or slits or apertures 18 differ from slots or slits or apertures 7 in that their deviating portions 8 are located on the same side of the slit 13, whereas the deviating portions 8 of slots 7 extend from opposite sides of the slots 7. The outer ones of the slits 13 preferably have their deviating portions 8 extending inwardly, so as not to weaken the end projections or tips 14, while the intermediate ones of the slots 13 mayhave their portions S-inclined in either direction. Either form of slit 7 or 13 may be used in either the strips 6 or 12, and they may all be inclined inthe same direction. as in Fig ure 3, or they may alternate in inclination, as shown in Figure 5, or the arrangement and shape of these slits may be varied in other ways.

Inf assembling the cellular structure or crate-filler of Figure 1, the intersecting inner partitions 1 are first interlocked, and end partitions 6 are next fixed on opposite sides of the structure, the tongues 3 being momentarily bent or deflected to bring their ears 0 in alinement or registration with the deviating portions 10 to allow their passage t-hcrethrcugh. Strips 12 are then attached to the remaining sides of the structure by inserting the tongues 3 of partitions 1 and 6 through their slits. 13 in a. similar manner. It is not to be understood, however, that the use of the novel form of joint embodied in the tongue 3 and slits 7 or 13 is imperative throughout the length of the end strips 6 or 12. In fact, an old type of joint, as typified in Figures 5 and 6 (consisting of slits 15 and 16 in strip 17, coacting with contraction 18 and projection 19 in strip 20) may be substituted for some of the novel forms of joints of this invention, the substitution being depicted in Figures 5 and G as applied to the end joints. The slits 7 or 13, in opposite end partitions, are preferably, though not necessarily, inclined in opposite direct-ions as relating to the particular slits coacting with the opposite tongues of a partition.

A modification of the joint of this invention is illustrated in Figure 7, 8, 9, and 10. Here the slots are divided into upper and lower sections 21 and by intervening webs 23, and the tongues are similarly divided into upper and lower halves 2st and 25 by the intervening recesses or slots 26.

Flanges 27 may be applied to both longi tudinal edges 9 of the end strips in both forms of this invention, being shown, however, only in the modification shown in Figure 7. They may be applied to one or more or all of the end strips, and when so applied materially stiffen the said end strips, and coineidently, the entire structure. The new is pe of joint enables the use of a continuous fl ange along the entire length of both longitudinal edges, because there are no slits interrupting the continuity of these longitudinal edges as in the old type of joint. These flanges 27 may be bent inwardly towards the cell, portion of the crate, or they may be extended outwardly towards the projecting ends of the strips, in which event, if they project to equal distances with the projecting ends, they serve as additional projecting ends or tips, and thereby assist the said tips and protect them in their function of cushioning the shocks and filling the intervening space between the end strips and the crate-container. The principal difierence between the forms shown in Figures 1 and 7,

in case flanges are to be employed in both forms, is that the flanges in the form of Figure 1 would not lap on the projecting ears of the transverse strips, as they do in the modification of Figure 2, because the projecting ears in Figure 1 do not extend as far across. The stifi'ening flanges 27 may have either their inner surfaces 28 in a plane with the top and bottom edges of the partitions, or their outer surfaces 29 in a plane therewith, in which event, there are recesses 30 for their reception in the several partitions, as shown in Figure 7.

Having thus described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In an egg crate, the combination with a plurality of intersecting strips each having their opposite ends provided with insertible tongues that are divided into upper and lower sections by intervening notches; of four vertically disposed end strips. adjacent ones of which are arran ed at right angles to each other and respectively provided with upper and lower flanges, one of said strips being shorter in length than its adjacent strip, and each strip having a plurality of transverse slits that are divided into upper and lower sections that are separated by reinforcing intervening webs to receive the divided tongues of said intersecting strips, and when so engaged present an article bounded by a continuous pair of upper and lower flanges extending around the entire edges thereof, there being divided tongues provided at the ends of the shorter end strips for interlocking engagement with the transverse slits of said longer end strips, the top and bottom edges of all of said tongues abutting the inner face of its adjacent flange.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

BERTHOLD A. LANGE. 

